1) Take Action: Protect Waterways from Toxic Mining Waste For decades federal protections have kept coal companies from mining within 100 feet of streams. Now the Office of Surface Mining is proposing to repeal those protections, allowing coal companies to mine next to and even through our waters.

In Appalachia alone more than 1,200 miles of streams have already been buried and the problem will only worsen if protections are removed.

Though the lapse does temporarily leave our coasts at risk, Congress will hopefully restore protections as part of a comprehensive energy bill to move us to clean energy solutions next year.

3) Factory Farms: Factory Farms Linked to Air, Water PollutionThough nearby residents, environmental and health groups have known for years that giant factory farms are major polluters, a new government report now confirms it. (pdf) Released late last week the report documents a 230% increase in the number of factory farms between 1982 and 2002 and links the farms to harmful air and water pollution.

The findings come as Congress considers exempting factory farms from the requirement that they report their toxic air pollution.